Projectile



April 3, 1945- J. A. MITCHELL. 2,372,970

' PROJECTILE Filed April 22, 1943 ATTORNEYJ.

Patented pr. 3, 1945 PROJECTILE James Americus Mitchell, Little Rock, Ark.

Application April 22, 1943, Serial No. 484,046

(Cl. IGZ-38) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to projectiles of the explosive type, one of the objects being to provide a shell which can be used in a barrel which is not rifled but which nevertheless .will be given a rotary motion to a projectile as it is projected through the atmosphere toward the target.

A further object is to provide a projectile normally contained within a shell, the latter being ried so that when the projectile leaves the shell it will be given a rotary motion.

Another object is to provide the shell with a firing mechanism of new and novel construction, there being a iiring pin normally held against movement but which, following penetration by the projectile, will be driven forcibly against a percussion-cap so as to ignite the explosive charge. v

A still further object is to provide the projectile with an oiling band for lubricating the surface of the gun while the projectile is being propelled etherealong.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations'of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit' of the invention as claimed. l

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the shell.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the projectile removed from the shell.

Figure '3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Referring to the gures by characters of reference, I designates a. substantially cylindrical projectile closed at its back end, as shown at 2 and provided in its outer surface with spiral grooves 3. The front end of the projectile is counterbored as indicated at 4 so as to receive one end of a plug 5 the other end portion of which projects outwardly as at 6 and has an ,annular channel 1 in which is located a band 8 of soft wiping material which ,can be impregnated with a grease.

The projecting end portion 6 of the plug has a concentric circular recess 9 extending around a central nose portion IIJ which is elongated and cylindrical and has its forward end tapered tc a blunt point H. This point can be reamed out to provide a substantially conical recess I2.

Plug 5 has an integral angular rib I3 extended longitudinally thereof, this rib being formed with an elongated recess I4 which is angular in crosssection as shown in Fig. 3. The rear end of this recess I4 is counterbored to provide a circular socket I5 for receiving a percussion-cap I6. A coiled spring Il is located in the other end of the elongated recess I4 and exerts a constant thrust against a pin I8 which extends through a slot 20 in the nose portion I0 of the plug and is carried by a band or ring 2| slidably mounted in and projecting from the recess 9. Break-pins 22 extend through the outer wall of recess 9 and into the band or ring 2I for the purpose of holding said ring against sliding movement unless subjected to excessive pressure in the direction of the length of the projectile. Y

A ring pin 23 which is angular in cross-section, is mounted to slide within the elongated recess I4 and has a prong 24 at its back end which is normally spaced from the percussion-cap. The front end of the pin 23 normally bears against pin I8 and is held thereagainst by a retaining pin 25 positioned radially within the Wall of the plug and normally held in the path of a portion of pin 23 by means of a plug or filling 26 of wax which is contained in the plug and across the outer end of pin 25. The plug 5 is held securely to the Wall of the projectile l by pins 2l and it is to be understood'of course that the projectile I is filled with an explosive indicated at 28, this explosive extending up into the nose portion of the projectile so as to iill the space along the rib I3,

The projectile I is adapted to be fitted snugly within an outer casing 29 which is ried as at 30 to fit snugly about the spirally grooved portion of the projectile. This casing is provided at its back end with av percussion-cap 30 of' the usual or any preferred form and is also filled with an explosive 3| located back of the projectile I.

A circular shield or band 32 can be extended around the band of lubricating material 8 as shown in Fig. l, this band being of thin material and normally fitted against the forward edge of the casing 29.

The shell is adapted to be placed in the breech of a firearm and is discharged in the usual manner, the explosion of the material 3| serving to expel the projectile I from the outer casing 29 in the same manner that a bullet is projected from its shell or casing. When the projectile reaches its target the blunt reamed end II will proceed to penetrate the same and when the surface of the target is reached by the ring 2l, said ring will be pressed back, breaking the pins 22 and causing pin I8 to force the firing pin 23 toward and against the percussion-cap I6. This forcible movement of the ring pin 23 Will result in pushing pin 25 outwardly because said pin is normally engaged by a beveled face 23 of the ring pin. This movement of pin 25 is permitted because it ,is held inwardly solely by the Wax 26 which is readily displaced under they pressure and heat generated bythe projectile.

As the projectile leaves the barrel of the rearm, it leaves the band or shield 32 and the ring 8 thus acts to lubricate the inner surface of the barrel and facilitates movement of the projectile so that it will rotate as Yit is expelled due to the cooperating rifled portions of` the outer casing and the projectile.

It will be noted that accidental disclfiarge o f the explosive 28 is prevented due to the fact that pin 23 is held both byV the restrained ring 2| `and the retaining pin .25. Pin 25 cannot be shifted as long as the `prdjectile vis housed in the Youter casing` or shell V29.. Consequently accidental or premature. explosion of the projectile is prevented. In othery words. the pin 25 constitutes a, safety device to` preventl premature explosion While the shell is beinghandled, whilevpins 22 and ring or band' 2l constitute a safety device for preventing explosion while in night,fandonlyr after the nose portion of the projectile has `penetrated the target.

What is claimed l... An explosive shell including an outer casing, a, hollow projectile seated therein, said projectile having an `end .portion extending beyond the, ontcr'casing-and Aa central nose portion, ex plosive materials, within the projectile-,and outer casing respectively, percussion-capsin the casing and projectile ,for'nring the respective explosive materials, ali-ring pin mounted .for sliding movement within :the nose portion or the projectile and having a. deecting surface, alholding pin normally seated in .the pathof saidi deflecting surface for holding .the iring pin spaced from the percussion-,capiti the. projectile, means `normally housed between said holding pin andthe outer casing for blocking .the holding pin against move-V of impact against a target, for actuating the r ing pin.

2. An explosive shell including an outer casing, a hollow projectile seated therein, said projectile having an end portion extending beyond the outer casing and a central nose portion, explosive materials withn the projectile and outer casing respectively, percussion-caps in the casing and projectile for iiring the respective explosive materials, a firing pin mounted for sliding movement Within the nose Aportion of the projectile and having a deflecting surface, a holding pin normally seated in the path of said deflecting surface for holding the firing pin spaced from the projectile percussion-cap, means normally housed betweensaid holding pin and the outer casing for blocking the holding pin against movement. outy of `the `path of the ring pin, while the projectile is within the outer casing, and means movable along the nose portion under the vforce oiimpact against a target. for. actuating the nring; pin, said meansincluding; a band, a driving connection between the band, and, the -ring pin, and means adapted to be broken by the impact of the band against the target. for releasing the band for movement relative to the nose portion.

3. An explosive shell. including; an outer casing, a` hollow projectile seated therein,l said projectile having anend portionextendmg beyond thefouter casing and a central.nose1portion, explosive` materials within the projectileand outer casingyrespectively, percussiomcapsin the casing and projectile for` firing the respective'explosivematerials, a firing` pin .mounted for slidingy movement within the nose-.portion ofv the projectile` and having, a deflecting surface, a holding pin normallyseatied in the path of said deflecting surface for'holdiing the -ring pin-.spaced from, the projectile percussionfcap, means, normally housed between said holding pin and the outer casing for blocking. the.

holding pin against movement out of the path of.`

the firing pin,A while theprojecte is Within the outercasing, andmeans, movable along the nose portion- `under the-torce of, impact against, a target, for actuating theringpida lubricating band seated; in andv ymovable .with the, projecting; portion ofV the projectile, and. a vcircular shield extending -from the outer `casing and normally surrounding said band.`

JAMES AAMERIACUS. IMITCHELL.` 

